Determined To Forgive And Walk in Divine Forgiveness

Transcription

1 Determined To Forgive And Walk in Divine Forgiveness By Gwendolyn N. Davis

2 Equipping Leaders to Lead Vision: Leaders fully equipped for Kingdom Service Mission: To equip leaders to lead while they reproduce leaders The Equipping Institute is a Christian based educational, mentoring and coaching organization set in place to train and develop leaders for kingdom service. We work with all Churches and Organizations that are willing to launch out and accomplish the purpose for which God placed them in the earth. The Equipping Institute Logo reminds us of the challenges and responsibilities of leadership. The triangle represents the personal victories a leader must achieve in growth and development of character values of which Honesty, Integrity

3 and Trust occupy the three (3) points. The core of the logo is made up of three (3) symbols that are vital to successful leadership, the Sword, the Scroll, and the Mortarboard. The Sword symbolizes the Truth, the Word of God which is the foundation necessary to achieve, and sustain spiritual growth. Sanctify them purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy by the Truth. Your Word is Truth. John 17:17 AMP The Scroll symbolizes the vision that is necessary for the leader. write down the vision; write it clearly on clay tablets so whoever reads it can run to tell others. Habakkuk 2:2 NCV Where there is no vision, the people perish: Proverbs 29:18a The Mortarboard symbolizes knowledge and understanding necessary for effective leadership and the importance of continuous learning and improvement. For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principle thing. And with all you have gotten get understanding discernment, comprehension and interpretation. Proverbs 4:7 AMP Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord, and understanding begins with knowledge of the Holy One. Proverbs 9:10 NCV Equipping Leaders to Lead describe who we are and what we do. Both physical and mental growth and stability are essential for the leader. We salute you.

4 The Equipping Institute P. O. Box 1154 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Printed in the United States of America. All right reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the expressed written consent of Gwendolyn N. Davis and The Equipping Institute. The copyright holder of this material assumes full responsibility for the validity and accuracy of the content herein. Leadfoot Press is a vanity printer and removes itself of all responsibility for the content of this and any future publication. All scripture quoted from King James Version Bible, and New Century Version Bibles. ISBN ISBN Printed by Leadfoot Press Detroit, Michigan

5 Contents From My Heart to You...1 Chapter 1 - Faith and Forgiveness Work Together...5 Chapter 2 - Forgive According to the Bible...10 Chapter 3 Forgiveness Then Favor...15 Chapter 4 Forgiveness and the Body...17 Chapter 5 Forgiveness and Answered Prayer...20 Chapter 6 Step Out on God s Word...22 Chapter 7 The New Me!...25 Appendix A Forgive Scriptures...27 Appendix B Forgive Worksheet Instructions...30 Appendix c Hindrances to Forgiving...31 Appendix D Hindrances to Forgiving...32

6 From My Heart to You This book can be considered a how-to manual for forgiveness. It is most likely one of the shortest books you will read and hopefully use. This is not the only way, to practice a higher level of forgiveness. However, I have actually used and experienced its contents, and have received testimony about its effectiveness. Therefore I want this book to be one you will read and reread and even reference until you have come to a place of walking in divine forgiveness. For these reasons it must be short and to the point. The purpose of this book is to give you specific truths that have helped me forgive and walk in divine forgiveness. God allows you to choose to forgive or not to forgive. Please know this one thing; you cannot be forgiven if you choose not to forgive. There can be no mistake about it; to forgive is not an option. Yet I know, from experience, it is not an easy thing to do, initially. I can testify that forgiving becomes easier as you make up your mind it is what you are going to do. I have asked God to give divine forgiveness to me, my children and all the generations of my family to come. I believe I receive divine forgiveness and walk in it day by day. I am also asking God to give you divine forgiveness as you launch out with a desire to forgive. I recently encountered a life style changing situation 1

7 that tested the very core of my ability to forgive. Thanks be to God, His word has remained true in my life. He has comforted me. He has sustained me. He has helped me to guard my heart. And more important, He has helped me forgive every person regardless of the role they played in the situation as it unfolded. Believe me, His presence is a wonderful assurance of victory. God is Sovereign! He can do what He pleases. He does all things well and according to His word. He is not a liar, therefore, you can trust Him to do what He says in His word and the word says [Matthew 6:14-15] For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, your Father will not forgive your trespasses. The statement is quite clear. You will be forgiven by your heavenly Father if you forgive men their trespasses against you. If you don t forgive, you will not be forgiven. What can you do? Forgive! Then rid yourself of all the junk that is associated with unforgiveness and go on to prosper and be in good health as your soul prospers. It is my prayer that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Who He is: the eyes of your heart are clear and full of light 2

8 so you can see what He has called you to; that your inheritance in Christ is great and there is no limit to His power toward you. (Ephesians 1:15-19 rephrased by the Author) Absolutely nothing can stop you when you allow your heart to be flooded with His word. My desire is that everyone will become determined to forgive and walk in divine forgiveness. Please contact The Equipping Institute if you are interested in a companion workbook that is intended to help you grow into the ability to forgive through the word of God. I am sure you are asking the question, but how can I forgive? The answer is to make up your mind that you want to forgive and walk in forgiveness then ask God to help you forgive. Holy Spirit is right there right now to help you in every detail. These statements apply to everyone that is a child of God, in the Body of Christ. If you are not sure if you are a child of God, pray this prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He died for me and that You raised Him from the dead. I repent of all sin I have committed. I ask You to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I ask Jesus to come into my life and live through me. The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 verses 9 and10, That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in you heart that God raised him from the 3

9 dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. NIV Continue on the path of forgiveness and you will find that when you forgive, it opens your heart to God and allows Him to cause a continuous flow of agape love through you. 4

10 Chapter 3 Forgiveness Then Favor Most of us desire to walk in divine favor and some of us actually profess to walk in divine favor. I certainly believe that divine favor is available based on Psalm 5:12, For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. KJV The New Century Version reads, Lord, you bless those who do what is right; you protect them like a soldier s shield. Again, the scripture is quite clear, the Lord will bless the righteous, those who do what is right. One version says He blesses them with favor, the other version calls it protection. What is without question is the one being blessed is a righteous person. According to Webster, righteous is acting in accord with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin. Favor, according to Webster is to show partiality toward. The way I view this scripture is as follows: God shows partiality toward the person who is obedient to His word and who is free from sin. The person is in right standing with God because he/she has confessed sin and has been forgiven by God. The person, to be in right standing with God has forgiven anyone who has sinned against him/her. 15

11 Now do you understand why I can say forgiveness then favor? Good! If you want divine favor, which is available to you from God, then obey God. Forgive and you will be forgiven and He can give you favor as a gift. What can I do? 1. Build on the studying you have been doing; review your notes. 2. If you have not already done so, define forgive and faith. 3. Define each word that catches your attention. 16

12 Appendix D Hindrances to Forgiving Can you make a list of the hindrances, those things that prevent you from forgiving? There is a partial list on the next page. Add to the list and find more scriptures until you have overcome all hinderances. Try finding the antonym for each word, then find a scripture to read and meditate upon. 32

13 Hindrance Antonym Scripture Pride Humility I Peter 5:6 Self righteous Righteousness of God Philippians 3:9; James 3:18 Ego Humility I Peter 5:6 Haughtiness Humility/Meekness I Peter 5:6; Matthew 5:5 Self sufficient Depend on/trust God Proverbs 3:5 Self exaltation Humility I Peter 5:6 Root of bitterness Pleasant Psalm 133:1; Proverbs 16:24 33